Distributor plate



Nov. 11, 1952 L L, BRUNK 2,617,899

DISTRIBUTOR PLATE- 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Oct. '28, 1949 INVENTOR. L. BRUNK Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DXSTRIBUTOR PLATE Leslie L. Brunk, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Application October 28, 1949, Serial No. 124,008

6 Claims.

My invention is an improved distributor plate unit for use in internal combustion engine distributors having a vacuum advance spark merchanism which rotates the distributor plate.

In order to obtain maximum efiiciency from an internal combustion engine using a spark ignition system it is necesssary that the spark be advanced or retarded to suit the condition of en gine load at any given moment. As the load varies the spark ignition timing must be varied, for maximum efficiency, so that the combustion in the cylinder is substantially complete just prior to the completion of the compression stroke of the piston. Conventionally, this variation in the spark timing is achieved by measuring the amount of vacuum existing at the manifold end translating this condition of vacuum into spark advance or retardation. A convenient means of translating the amount of vacuum into spark advance is by running a vacuum line from the carburetor side of the manifold to a housing located on the side of the distributor in which is mounted diaphragm subject to actuation by variations of the vacuum and by a calibrated return spring. One side of the diaphragm is open to the vacuum line. lhe other side of the diaphram is connected by means of a rod or other suitable means to a rotatable distributor plate located within the distributor housing. The movement of the diaphragm is thus transmitted to the distributor plate and causes the distributor plate to rotate about its axis which produces a relative movement between the circuit breaker and the breaker cam. Thus, variations of vacuum causes the spark to be transmitted to each of the cylinders at the proper time so that combustion is substantially complete at the end of the compression stroke under all engine loads.

This rotation of the distributor plate both directions is continuous where the engine is subject to variations in engine load as, for instance, where the vehicle is being driven through heavy traiiic. This continuous movement tends to rapidly wear the three bearing points from which the conventional distributor plate is supported. The wear of the bearing points or the recess in which they move tends to displace the distributor piate both vertically and horizontally resulting in a condition of flutter or tilt and misalignment which varies the cam angle and timing curve so that the spark advance is not properly regulated and poor engine performance results.

It is an object of my invention to remove this common cause of poor engine performance by using a distributor plate unit which by its construction and design will permit of no flutter or tilt or vertical movement and which initially can be accurately aligned and which alignment cannot thereafter be changed by normal movement of the distributor plate.

Another object of my invention is to provide a distributor plate which can be quickly and easily substituted for the original plate in an old distributor.

Another object of my invention is to provide friction-free movement of the distributor plate and freedom from tilt thereby assuring constant cam angle and correct timing curve over the en tire range of engine speed and vacuum conditions.

It is another object of my invention to provide better acceleration and smooth idling of the engine. It is also an object of my invention to provide an assembly plate unit which will necessitate no change in original timing or cam angle specifications where the distributor plate unit is used in an old distributor.

The principles and characteristic features of my invention and the manner of making and constructing and using my improved distributor plate unit will further appear in the accompanying drawings and the following description explaining the best modes in which I have contemplated using such principle.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a distributor, with cap removed, embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the distributor partly in crosssection; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the distributor partly in cross-section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of my new distributor plate unit and distributor housing taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an exploded View of the parts comprising the distributor plate unit; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the top of the distributor plate; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the ballbearing ring; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the support ring.

The distributor embodying my new distributor plate unit comprises a housing I in which is rotatably mounted cam shaft 2 rotated by a gear 3 having conventional geared connections with the engine proper. Ihe upper part of the cam shaft 2 carries the usual cam breaker 4 and provision is made for the mounting of a rotating contact, not shown, which makes contact with a distributor cap, not shown.

Secured to the distributor or breaker plate 5 by screws are the condenser 6 and the circuit breaker mechanism 1 together with one end of an arm 8 whose other end is connected to a vacuum actuated diaphragm mounted in the housing 9 which is secured to the distributor housing by screws I and I Ila.

The distributor plate is connected with and rides upon the inner ring II of the ball-bearing ring I2. The outer ring I3 of the ball-bearing ring I2 is seated in and firmly held by the inner periphery I4 and disc I5 of the supporting ring I6. The supporting ring it is in turn securely fastened to the inner face of the housing I by means of screws or bolts fastened to the housing.

The outer ring I3 of the ball-bearing ring I2 is shrunk-fit to the inner periphery Id with suf ficient adherence so that no force capable of being transmitted by the vacuum actuated diaphragm mounted in the housing 9 can force the outer ring I3 out of position relative to the pe-. riphery Id or displace the support ring I6 relative to the housing I.

o ecu th d s ribu or p a e 5 o. the inne rin II. a s e of r a i n a e made 1 h plate 5 to form downwardly depending lobes I? which are press-fitted to the inner peripheral surface I8 of the ring I I. Teats is formed on the ends of the lobes I? are pressed into engagement with the beveled edge 29 of the ring II. Thus, the plate 5 cannot mOVe relative to the ring II but can only move in conjunction therewith.

The outer portion 2i of the distributor plate 5. overlies the ball-bearing ring I 2 and partially overlies the horizontal flange 22, being part of the support ring I6, thereby preventing dirt or foreign matter from entering and clogging the races 23 and 26, formed on the inner facing surfaces of the rings II and I3, or from depositing on the ballebearings 25. The under-portion of the ball-bearing ring I2 is shielded from dirt or foreign matter by the overlapping of the disc I5 which extends completely over the entrance to the ball-bearing races 23 and 2d and partly over the inner ring I I.

The ball-bearings 25 are in diameter somewhat less than the depth of the rings II and I3 but completely fill the peripheral length of the races 23 and 25 thereby providing a great number of bearing surfaces over which the load is distributed so as to provide minimum pressure at any one point.

The periphery of the distributor plate 5 overlying the outer ring I3 and the horizontal surface 22 is raised slightly to provide adequate clearance between the parts. Similarly, the innermost portion of the disc I5 which fits under the inner ring I I is depressed slightly so as to provide proper clearance of the parts. In operation, therefore, the plate 5 turns on ball-bearings 25 which are completely shielded from dust and dirt and which by their size and number so distribute the pressure load as to provide friction free movement of the distributorplate. The distributor plate is thus free to respond to the slightest change in manifold vacuum thereby assuring maximum performance of the engine at all engine loadings and an accurate timing curve under all vacuum conditions.

The distribution of the load on the plate 5 over a great many pressure points eliminates for practical purposes any wear of the moving parts thus assuring constant cam angle under all engine conditions and also eliminates the cause of plate flutter.

' The distributor plate unit composed .of the distributor plate 5, ball-bearing ring 12 and supporting ring I6 can be readily inserted in an old distributor housing. The procedure for so doing is to remove the old distributor plate together with the screws I0, 26 and 21. My distributor plate unit is then placed inside the housing and the holes 28, 29, and 30 in the support ring I6 are aligned with the holes in the housing from whence the screws ID, 26 and 21 have heretofore been removed. The screws I93, 25 and 27, or slightly longer ones, are then reinserted and after the condenser, breaker mechanism and arm 8 have been transferred from the old to the new distributor plate, the distributor is once again ready to operate. The holes 28, 29 and 30 have been'so placed that for any given distributor the distributor plate unit is properly aligned once the screws are replaced as aforesaid.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A rotor mechanism for attachment to a distributor housing in which is rotatably mounted a camshaft, a supporting ring, means attaching said ring to said housing, a ball bearing comprising an inner rotary raceway, and an outer stationary raceway each having a groove and ball bearings in the grooves of said raceways, a distributor plate, said supporting ring having upper and lower steps each consisting of horizontal and substantially vertical circular portions, said stationary raceway being supported on the horizontal portion of the lower step, said distributor plate having means rigidly attaching the same to said rotary raceway, said plate having an outer portion overlying both raceways and partially overlying the horizontal portion of said upper step, and said horizontal portion of the lower step extending across the space between and below said raceways whereby said plate outer portion and said last named step horizontal portion protect against the entrance of extraneous matter to said raceway grooves and ball bearings, said ball bearing being concentrically mounted with relation to said shaft when said supporting ring is attached to said housing.

2. A rotor mechanism for attachment to a distributor housing in which is rotatably mounted a camshaft, a supporting ring, means attaching said ring to said housing, a ball bearing comprising an inner rotary raceway, and an outer stationary raceway each having a groove and ball bearings in the grooves of said raceways, a distributor plate, said supporting ring having upper and lower steps each consisting of horizontal and substantially vertical circular portions, said stationary raceway being supported on the horizontal portion of the lower step, said distributor plate having means rigidly attaching the same to said rotary raceway, said plate having an outer portion overlying both raceways and partially overlying the horizontal portion of said upper step, and said horizontal portion of th lower step extending across the space between and below said raceways whereby said plate outer portion and said last named step horizontal portion protect against the entrance of extraneous matter to said raceway grooves and ball bearings, said ball bearing bein concentrically mounted with relation to said shaft when said supporting ring is attached to said housing, said means attaching said ring to said housing comprising an upper extension and a plurality of spaced screw threaded means for attaching said extension to said housing. I

3. A rotor mechanism for attachment to a distributor housing in which is rotatably mounted a cam shaft, a supporting ring, means attaching said ring to said housing, a ball bearing comprising an inner rotary raceway, and an outer stationary raceway each having a groove and ball bearings in the grooves of said raceways, a distributor plate, said supporting ring having upper and lower steps each consisting of horizontal and substantially vertical circular portions, said stationary raceway being supported on the horizontal portion of the lower step, said distributor plate having means rigidly attaching the same to said rotary raceway, said plate having an outer portion overlying both raceways and partially overlying the horizontal portion of said upper step, and said horizontal portion of the lower step extending across the space between and below said raceway whereby said plate outer portion and said last named step horizontal portion protect against the entrance of extraneous matter to said raceway grooves and ball bearings, said ball bearing being concentrically mounted with relation to said shaft when said supporting ring is attached to said housing, said means attaching said distributor plate to said rotary raceway comprising a plurality of depending lobes.

4. A rotor mechanism for attachment to a distributor housing in which is rotatably mounted a cam shaft, a supporting ring, means attaching said ring to said housing, a ball bearing comprising an inner rotary raceway, and an outer stationary raceway each having a groove and ball bearings in the grooves of said raceways, a distributor plate, said supporting ring having upper and lower steps each consisting of hori zontal and substantially vertical circular portions, said stationary raceway being supported on the horizontal portion of the lower step, said distributor plate having means rigidly attaching the same to said rotary raceway, said plate having an outer portion overlying both raceways and partially overlying the horizontal portion of said upper step, and said horizontal portion of the lower step extending across the space between and below said raceway whereby said plate outer portion and said last named step horizontal portion protect against the entrance of extraneous matter to said raceway grooves and ball bearings, said ball bearing being concentrically mounted with relation to said shaft when said supporting ring is attached to said housing, said means attaching said distributor plate to said rotary raceway comprising a plurality of depending lobes, struck from said distributor plate.

5. A rotor mechanism for attachment to a distributor housing in which is rotatably mounted a cam shaft, a supporting ring, means attaching said ring to said housing, a ball bearing comprising an inner rotary raceway, and an outer stationary raceway each having a groove and ball bearings in the grooves of said raceways, a distributor plate, said supporting ring having upper and lower steps each consisting of horizontal and substantially vertical circular porill tions, said stationary raceway being supported on the horizontal portion of the lower step, said distributor plate having means rigidly attaching the same to said rotary raceway, said plate having an outer portion overlying both raceways and partially overlying the horizontal portion of said upper step, and said horizontal portion of the lower step extending across the space between and below said raceway whereby said plate outer portion and said last named step horizontal portion protect against the entrance of extraneous matter to said raceway grooves and ball bearings, said ball bearing being concentrically mounted with relation to said shaft when said supporting ring is attached to said mounting, said means attaching said distributor plate to said rotary raceway comprising a plurality of depending lobes, having a press-fit with said rotary raceway.

6. A rotor mechanism for attachment to a distributor housing in which is rotatably mounted a cam shaft, a supporting ring, means attaching said ring to said housing, a ball bearing comprising an inner rotary raceway, and an outer stationary raceway each having a groove and ball bearings in the grooves of said raceways, a distributor plate, said supporting ring having upper and lower steps each consisting of horizontal and substantially vertical circular portions, said stationary raceway being supported on the horizontal portion of the lower step, said distributor plate having means rigidly attaching the same to said rotary raceway, said plate having an outer portion overlying both raceways and partially overlying the horizontal portion of said upper step, and said horizontal portion of the lower step extending across the space between and below said raceway whereby said plate outer portion and said last named step horizontal portion protect against the entrance of extraneous matter to said raceway grooves and ball bearings, said ball bearing being concentrically mounted with relation to said shaft when said supporting ring is attached to said housing, said means attaching said distributor plate to said rotary raceway comprising a plurality of depending lobes, teats formed on the ends of said lobes having a press-fit with said rotary raceway.

LESLIE L. BRUNK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,075,904 Lang et al Apr. 6, 1937 2,085,817 Melcher et a1 July 6, 1937 2,131,019 Arthur et al Sept. 27, 1938 2,303,464 I-Iove Dec. 1, 1942 2,489,775 I-Iaubert Nov. 29, 1949 2,504,439 McKenna Apr. 18, 1950 

